Glass making machine



March 27, 1934. E. s. HUNTER GLASS MAKING MACHINE 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 14 March 27, 1934.

E. Es. HUNTER GLASS MAKING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar.p427l, 1934 I Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE n 1,952,593 GLASS MAKING MCHINE Edward B. Hunter, Los Angeles, Calif. Application March 14., 1932, -Serial No. 598,683 9 Claims. (Cl. 49-32) My invention relates to a device for making or head for engaging the upper ends of the wires sheet glass having strands of reinforcing mateand moving them upwardly at a controlled rate rial such as wire centrally embedded therein for of speed. At the sides of the horizontal or table the purpose of producing a glass sheet of substructure are channel or trough-like containers stantially shatter-proof characteristic. which receive molten glass from a glass fur- 60 It is a principal object of my invention to pronace and which are adapted to discharge layers vide a machine by which reinforced sheet glass of glass across the top of the table structure to of high quality may be economically manufacthe upright plane or path through which the retured. The present commonly employed method inforcing wires are moved upwardly.

10 of makingsheet glass with a wire fabric therein It is a further object of the invention to pro- 65 is to spread a sheet of plastic or molten glass vide a device of -the character set forth in the over a table, place a wire fabric thereon, and foregoing paragraph having parallel rollers in then spread a top layer of molten glass over the the opening of the horizontal wall, which rollers fabric, the two glass layers uniting to form a sinprovide a closure for the opening, and also serve gle sheet or plate of glass having the wire reinas guide means for the reinforcing wires. 70-

forcementV therein. Under' ordinary circum- It is afurther object of the invention to prostances the reinforced plate of glass thus formed vide such a glass making device having means must be polished in the customary manner of above the opening in the horizontal wall strucpolishing plate glass. I am aware that there are ture which may be applied to the opposite sides a number of patents in existence showing maof the upwardly moving sheet of glass for the 75 chines for making reinforced glass in which a purpose offorcing the layers of glass toward each wire fabric is conducted into a body of molten other, for gauging the thickness of the glass glass and is then raised or lifted from the glass plate, or for imprinting one or both surfaces of in a vertical plane so as to carry part .of the the plate to render the plate of glass non-transmolten glass therewith.- I do not know that parent. 80

such devices have ever been practically used, and It is a further object of the invention to probelieve that the reason why they have not been vide a glass making machine of the above charplaced in practical use is that the wire fabric acter which may be employed to make any kind lis kept in the molten metal, or in engagement of at glass, either with or without reinforcement with extremely hot glass for too long a period and with either smooth or figured surfaces. 85

of time with the result that the wires of the wire Further obqjects and advantages of the invenfabric are burned or oxidized. tion will be brought out in the following part of It is an object of my invention to provide a the specification. glass making machine of the above character in Referring to the drawingswhich are for illuswhich a wire fabric or reinforcing wires are cartrative purposes only,

ried through an upright plane, and as these wires Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a simple preferred or wire fabric moves upwardly layers of plastic form of my invention. i or molten glass are directed to the opposite sides Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section on a plane thereof. l represented by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

40 The layers of plastic glass combine to form a Fig. 3 is a cross-section on a plane represented 95 sheet or plate of glass adhering to and embodyby the line'3-3 of Fig. 2. f ing the reinforcing wires or wire fabric. The Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the drive gear arlayers of plastic or molten glass `are delivered to rangement at the upper end of Fig. l. the opposite sides of the reinforcement, over the `As shown in the drawings, my new glass making top of a horizontal structure or table and reach machine employs a frame structure 11 including 100 the position at which they are to combine to form end members 12 and 13 secured to a floor or base a glass plate in such condition and at such 14 and connected together by meanspof horizontal proper temperature that burning of the reinmembers l5. Supported on the members 15 ofthe forcement wires does no't result. frame structure 11 'is a horizontal wall 17 having 'It is an object of my invention to provide a a ver-tical opening 18 therein in which parallel 105 glass making machine of the above character hav'- vlongitudinal rollers 20 and 21 are mounted, the ing a. horizontal or table structure'with an openrollers 20 and 21 being of a size to substantially ing therein, there being means for guiding a wire ll the opening 18 and being positioned sothat the fabric, or reinforcing wires upwardly through adjacent portions thereof will nearly contact and this opening. and a vertically movable carriage willprovide guide means for reinforcing Wires 22. 110

GSO

The reinforcing wires 22 are further guided in an upright path below the rollers 20 and 21 by plates 23 and 24. Situated at the lower ends of the plates 23 and 24 isa horizontal roller 25, and to 22 are referred to, it is to be understood that wire fabric also comes within the meaning of the term.

' f From the roll or spool 28 the wires are conducted horizontally as indicated at 30 to the roller 25 after which they are guided upwardly through the opening 18 and between the rollers 20 and 21. The upper ends 31 of the wires 22 are engaged by a clamping device or gripping device 32 secured to a vertically movable head 33 which is of substantially the same length as the frame structure 11. Means for moving the head 33 upwardly is provided in the form of vertical screws 34, the lower ends of which are mounted in bearings 35, and which screws 34 4pass upwardly through threaded bosses 36 in the corners of the head 33 and pass upwardly through bearings 37 in a plate 38 held at a distance above the frame structure 11 by means of posts 40 and reinforcing members 41.

By means of bearing members 42, 43, and 44, as shown in Fig. 1, a drive shaft 45 is secured in a position below the forward end of the plate 38. This drive shaft may be operated from any suitable power source and has a beveled gear 46 thereon engaging a beveled gear 47 on a horizontal shaft 48 which extends under the plate 38 and has on its inner end a beveled gear 50 which engages a beveled gear 5l mounted at the lower end of a vertical shaft 52 which projects vertically through the plate 38. The upper ends of the shafts or screws 34 have beveled gears 53 mounted thereon which' engage beveled gears 54 on the outer ends of horizontal diagonally disposed shafts 55 whichv are respectively -supported in bearings 56 mounted in the upper face of the plate 38. 0n the inner ends of the shafts 55 are beveled gears 57 which engage beveled gears 58 on the vertical shaft 52, thereby providing a geared drive connection 'from the shaft 45 to the vertical screws 34. Rotation of the screws 34 produces vertical movement of the head 33 and the wires 22 may be thereby drawn or moved vertically upwardlythrough an upright path which is preferably vertical.-

As shown in Fig. 2, the rollers 20 and 21 are mountedin bearings carried4 by the frame members 12 and 13. The roller 21 has shaft projections A60 and 61 which are carried in stationary bearings 62, and the roller 20 has extending shafts 63 which arereceivedvin horizontally adjustable bearing blocks 64 carried in horizontal guides 65 in the frame members 12 and 13. Above the rollers 20 and 21 are rollers 66 and 67 mounted on shafts 68 and 70,4 the shaft 68 being mounted in longitudinally adjustable bearing blocks 71 carried in the frame members 12 and 13, and the shaft being received in stationary bearings 72. On the forward end of the shaft 70 as shown in Fig. 2 is a beveled gear 73 adapted to be driven by a beveled gear 74 mounted on the lowerend of a shaft 75 which extends vertically and has a beveled gear 76 on its upper end engaging a beveled gear 77 on the drive shaft 45. 'In a bearing 78 a short shaft 79 is mounted Lacasse below the beveled gear 73, and on its upper end has a beveled gear 80 which engages the beveled gear 73, and on its lower end has a beveled gear 81 adapted to engage a beveled gear 82 on the forwardly projecting end 83 of the forward shaft projections 60 of the roller,2l. yWhen the drive shaft 45 is rotated the screws 34, and the rollers 2l and 67 will be driven.

Adjacent to the frame member 13 and the rearward ends of the rollers 20 and 21'is a glass furnace 85 having a Imelting chamber 86 therein adapted to feed molten glass 87 as indicated in Fig. 3 into molten glass containers or channels 88 which project forwardly from the furnace 85 along the sides of the horizontal wall 17. The

`containers 88are preferably of covered construction and may have doors 90 at the ends thereof, and further may be equipped with burners 91 adapted for employment at desired intervals to maintain the glass 87 at a desired temperature, especially during such times as the glass making machine is inoperative.

In the side wallsV 98 of the containers` 88 are horizontal slots or openings 94 through which layers of plastic or molten glass 95 flow, to pass down sloping faces 96 and then fiow across the upper face of the horizontal wall structur 17, and then over the rollers` 20 and 211. to meet on the upright plane defined by the wires 22. For the purpose of controlling the thickness of the layers 95 adjustable means are employed in con- ;junction with 'the longitudinal openings 94 for determining the height of the outer ends of the openings 94. For this purpose I have shown longitudinal strips 97 which are adjustably secured in place by screws or bolts 98. Thelayers of plastic glass 95 adhere to the opposite sides of and'surround the wires 2 2, and as the wires are moved slowly upwardly a sheet or plate 100 of glass having the wires 22 substantially centrallysituated therein is carried upwardly between the rollers 66 and 67. These rollers may or `may not be placed to engage the surfaces of the sheet 100, as desired, for if the gaugev of the glass is not important the rollers 66 and 67 need not be employed. Also, oneor both of the rollconditions of use, such as where a very thin plate 100 is being formed and the reinforcing wires are of small size, the rollers 20 and 21 maybe separated, so as not to engage the wires 22 with pressure, and the roller 20 will then be rotated in clockwise direction and the roller 21 will be rotated in anti-clockwise"direction, so that the r`upper faces of the rollers 20 and 21 will'act to carry the layers. 95 of plastic or molten glass toward the wires 22,l and in such use of the machine Jche plates 97 will be adjusted so as to control' the delivery of relatively thin layers 95 of plastic or molten glass. -In this second manner of rotating the rollers 20 and 21 the two layers 95 of glass are carried upwardly by the wires 22 as fast as they are fed by the rollers 20 and 2l to engage them with the wires 22,

therefore glass will not be carried downwardly between the rollers. Burner pipes 105 may be placed in horizontal position above'the horizontal wall structure 17 so as to provide means for maintaining a desired temperature in the layers of glass 95.

In the use of the machine disclosed herein the reinforcement may be omitted, and plain or nonreinforced sheet glass may be made by securing a leader member in a position depending from the clamp 32, such leader member being of such vertical dimension as to extend down through the rollers 66 and 67 to engage the glass which ows in over the tops of the rollers 20 and 21. A sheet .-of glass may then be lifted vertically by moving the head 33 upwardly in the manner previously described, andin conjunction with making a sheet of clear, non-reinforced glass the rollers 66 and 67 may or may not be used, in accordance with the requirements of the sheet glass ybeing manufactured. o

Although I have herein .shown and described -my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or -mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the 'details disclosed herein but is to bev accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sheet glass making machine of the character described, including: a horizontal wall structure having an opening therein; a guide comprising a pair of opposed rollers for directing wires through an upright path through said opening, said rollers being disposed in side-by` side relation in said openingv so as to substantially lll the same and so that the upper parts of said rollers form a continuation of the upper face of said horizontal wall structure, the wires passing between said rollers; means engaging the upper ends of said wires for moving them upwardly through said path; and means for feeding plastic glass in layers across the opposing upper faces of said wall structure to the opposite sides of said wires above said opening, such layers uniting at the plane of said wires to form a single sheet of glass with said wires "therein, as said wires and saidlayers are moved upwardly through said path.

2. Asheet glass making machine of the char--v acter described, including: a horizontal wall structure having an opening therein; aguide for directing wires through an upright path through said opening; means engaging the upper ends oi' said wires for moving them upwardly through said path; and a pair of containers for molten glass disposed at the outer edges of said horizontal wall structure, said containers having horizontally elongated discharge gates disposed at planes above said opening, there being sloping walls connectingV said gates with the upper lface of said horizontal'structurefor discharging layers of molten glass from said containers across said wall structure to the opposite sides of said wires above saidopening, such layers uniting at the plane of said wires to form .a single sheet of glass with said wires therein, as said Wires land said layers 'are moved upwardly through said'path.

3. A sheet glass making machine of the character described, including: a horizontal wall structure having an opening therein; a guide upper face of said horizontal rollers for directing wires through an upright disposed at the outer edges of said horizontal'V wall structure, said containers having horizon-y tally elongated discharge gates disposed at planes above said opening, there being sloping Walls connecting said gates with the upper face of said horizontal structure for discharging layersf'of molten glass from said containers across said wall structure to the-opposite sides of said wires above said opening, such layers 4uniting at the plane of said wires to form a single sheet of glass withV said wires therein, as said Wires andv said layers `are moved upwardly through said path. g

4. A sheet glass making machine of the character described, including: a horizontal wall structure having an opening therein; a guide in said opening comprising a pair of opposed rollers for directing wires through an upright path through said opening, said rollers being disposed in side-by-side relation in saidl opening so as to substantially illl the same and so that the upper parts of said rollers form a continuation of the wall structure, the wires passing between said rollers; means engaging the upper ends of' said wires for moving them upwardly through said path; a pair of containers for molten .glass disposed at .the outer edges of said horizontal wall structure; means for discharging layers of molten glass from said containers across said wall structure to the opposite sides of said wires above said opening, such layers uniting at the plane of said wires to form a single sheet of glass with said wires therein, as said Wires and said layers are moved upwardly through said path; and a pair of op- `posed rollers for forcing said layers together substantially fill the same and so that the upper parts of said rollers form a continuation of the upper face .of said horizontal wall structure, the wires passing between said rollers; means engaging the upper ends of said wires for moving them' upwardly through said path; a glass furnace dis posed adjacent one end of said guidey means; a pair of channel-like containers for molten glass extending forwardly from said furnace along the outer edges of said horizontal wall structure; and means for discharging layers of molten glass from said containers across said wall structure to the opposite sides of said wires above said opening, such layers uniting at the plane of said wires to form a single sheet of glass with said wires therein, as .said wires and said layers are moved upwardly through said path.

6. A sheet glass making machine of the charil acter described, including: `a horizontal wall structure having an opening therein; a guide in said opening comprising a pair of opposed path through said opening, said rollersA being dis-.. posed in side-by-side relation in said opening so as to substantially fill the same and so that I the upper parts of said rollers form a continua;-

'tion of the upper face of said horizontal wall 150 structure, the wires passing between said rollers; means engaging the upper ends of said wires for moving them upwardly through said path; a glass furnace disposed adjacent one end of said guide means; a pair of channel-like containers for molten glass extending forwardly from Isaid furnace along the outer edges of said horizontal wall structure; means for discharging layers of molten glass from said containers across said wall structure to the opposite sides of said wires above said opening, such layers uniting at Athe plane of said wires to form a single sheet of glass with said wires therein, as said wires and said layers are moved upwardly through said path; and a `pair of opposed rollers engaging the sides of said sheet of glass.

'7. A sheet glass making machine o the character described, including: a horizontal wall structure having an opening therein; a pair of guide rollers for directing wires through an upright path through said opening, said rollers being disposed in side-by-side relation in said opening so as to substantially fill the same and so that the upper parts of said rollers form a continuation of the upper face of said horizontal wall structure, the Wires passing between said rollers; a vertically movable head having means for engaging the upper ends of said wires; \means for moving said head upwardly at a controlled speed so as to move said wires upwardly through said path; and means for feeding plastic glass in layers across the opposing upper faces of said wall structure to the opposite sides of said wires above said opening, such layers uniting at the plane of said wires to form a single sheet of glass with said wires therein, as said wires and said Alayers are moved upwardly through said path.

a horizontal wall Lacasse p opening so as to substantially ll the same and so that the upper parts of said rollers form a continuation of the upper face of said horizontal wall structure, the Vwires passing between said rollers; a vertically movable head having means foriengaging the upper ends of said wires; means for moving said head upwardly at a controlled speed so as to move said wires upwardly through said path; a pair of containers for molten glass disposed at the outer edges of said horizontal wall structure; and means for discharging layers of molten glass from said containers across said wall structure to the opposite sides of said wires above said opening, such layers uniting at the plane of said wires to form a single* sheet of glass with said wires therein, as said wires and said layers are moved upwardly through said path.

9. A sheet glass making machine of the character described, including: a horizontall wall structure `having an opening therein; a guide comprising a pair of opposed rollers for directing wires through an upright path through said opening, said rollers being disposed in side-byside relation in said opening so as to substantially ll the same and so that the upper parts of said rollers form a continuation of the upper face of said horizontal wall structure, the wrres passing between said rollers; a vertically movable head raving means for engaging the upper ends of said wires; means 'for moving said head upwardly at a controlled speed so as to move said wires upwardly through said path; a pair of containers for molten glass disposed at the outer edges of said horizontal wallstructure; means for discharging layers of molten glass from'said containers across said Wall structure to the opposite sides of said wires above said opening, such layers uniting at the plane of said wires to form a single sheet of glass with said ires therein, as said wires and said layers areimoved upwardly through said path; and a pair of opposed rollers for engaging the sides of said sheet of glass.

EDWARD B. HUNTER..v 

